Join the Conversation

Indicted Rep. Fattah loses Pennsylvania Democratic primary

Associated Press
Published 10:53 p.m. ET April 26, 2016

In this June 30, 2011, file photo, U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., speaks during a Democratic National Committee event in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania state Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, and two other Democratic candidates are challenging Fattah's bid for re-election in Pennsylvania's Tuesday, April 26, 2016, primary, which is Fattah's first primary fight in two decades and takes place three weeks before his scheduled trial on federal racketeering, bribery, fraud and money laundering charges, slated to begin Monday, May 16, 2016.(Photo: Matt Rourke, AP)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Indicted Pennsylvania congressman Chaka Fattah, facing his first primary fight in two decades, has lost the Democratic primary just before the start of his federal corruption trial.

Fattah, an 11-term U.S. representative, had been outspent in the race as he struggled to raise funds for both the campaign and his defense lawyers. He was ousted on Tuesday by a 36-year state lawmaker, Rep. Dwight Evans, in his first primary fight in two decades.

Fattah has represented the Philadelphia region in Washington for two decades and served on the powerful Appropriations Committee.

He's accused of accepting bribes and misusing campaign funds and charitable grants to enrich his family and friends.

He has called the seven-year FBI probe that's ensnared his son and close aides a political witch hunt. He says he has done nothing wrong.

Jury selection in his trial starts next week. Opening statements are set for May 16.

The 2015 indictment describes four schemes, two involving efforts to erase $1 million in debts from Fattah'sfailed 2007 bid for Philadelphia mayor. The indictment also charges four associates, including former staff members, with crimes and accuses Fattah's wife of being linked to an $18,000 sham sale of a luxury car.

Fattah had three opponents in his heavily Democratic Philadelphia-area district.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Gov. Tom Wolf backed Evans.

But Fattah had the support of other key players, including black ward leaders and other local officials.

Fattah, who's 59, had won the office at 37 and soon became a fixture as the state's only black congressman, representing the only predominantly black district in the state. He flew on Air Force One with President Barack Obama and brought home millions of dollars in federal funds for housing, scholarships, transportation and crime prevention.

However, the White House on Tuesday distanced itself from a robocall that used archival audio of Obama's voice to urge voters to support Fattah and said it didn't approve. In the clip, Obama was acknowledging Fattahat an event for his work on neuroscience research.

White House spokeswoman Jennifer Friedman said Obama hadn't endorsed a candidate in the race. A Fattahcampaign representative said she was seeking more information about the issue.

Fattah and his wife, former TV news anchor Renee Chenault Fattah, had long been a power couple on the Philadelphia scene.

But she left her job after the indictment, when prosecutors painted her as a participant in the sham sale of her Porsche to a lobbyist. She, like her husband, has said she did nothing wrong.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.